An 81-year-old driver who pulled out into the path of a York biker causing a crash that resulted in his death showed no remorse for his actions.
Biker Nick Gilroy, 64, was riding within the speed limit when William Beckett pulled out of a side road without looking and hit him.
Mr Gilroy swerved to try and evade Beckett’s car but couldn’t. He was thrown from the bike and died several weeks later of his injuries.
It happened on the B6265 in Aldborough south of Boroughbridge on 20 May, 2023.
Beckett denied causing death by careless driving and claimed he had stopped and looked in both directions before pulling out of Front Street.
Crash location
He suggested that cyclists may have obscured his view and speculated that the victim had been the one at fault.
However, collision investigators concluded Beckett would have had a clear view of the approaching motorbike for about nine seconds, equivalent to around 160 metres, before pulling out.
Following a trial at York Crown Court, a jury found Beckett guilty after just over an hour of deliberations.
The judge described Beckett as “self-centred” and “deceitful”, stating he had shown “not one shred of remorse or feeling for the family” and had repeatedly sought to avoid responsibility despite overwhelming evidence that his driving had been careless.
Beckett of Vernham Dean, Hampshire, was given a 12 months suspended jail sentence at York Crown Court on Friday (2 October) for causing death by careless driving.
He was also handed a six-month curfew, ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified from driving for three years.
Mr Gilroy had previously served in the RAF and completed a solo trip on his motorcycle throughout all the states in the USA.
Detective Constable Stephanie Palmer, of North Yorkshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This tragic case demonstrates the devastating consequences that can occur when drivers fail to take proper care at junctions.
“The victim was an experienced motorcyclist who was riding lawfully and within the speed limit.
“We would urge all drivers to take extra time to look carefully for vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians, particularly when emerging from side roads and junctions.
“Taking those few extra moments to ensure it is safe can help prevent further tragedies on our roads.”